Photos and Memories of New York

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1983 New York, John in front of CG sign at Governors Island New York



1983 ferryboat terminals connecting Governors Island and Manhatten
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Governors Island New York is a teardrop-shaped island, 2.2 miles around and packed with fascinating snippets of history dating back to the city's origin as New Amsterdam.
Dutch settlers bought the original 90-acre island from Indians in 1637, for two ax-heads, some beads and nails, and named it Nutten Island for its many nut trees. It was renamed for British colonial governors who lived there.
Separated from Brooklyn by a strait called Buttermilk Channel and accessible only by ferry from lower Manhattan, Governors Island was for 242 years a military post -- Dutch, then British, then American, and only rarely open to visitors.
Although its two early 19th-century forts apparently never fired in anger, they discouraged British threats against New York during the War of 1812.
The last tenant, the U.S. Coast Guard, pulled out in 1997 for budgetary reasons.
The island, deserted except for a handful of caretakers and migrating geese and rated one of the nation's 11 most endangered places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, faced an uncertain future.
Proposals for its use included high-rise apartments, public housing, a television tower -- even a casino, favored by then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani -- before a public and private coalition called the Governors Island Partnership stepped in with a master plan to make use of the island while preserving its character.
In January 2003, the harbor jewel that the federal government had valued at $500 million was returned to New York City for the bargain price of $1.
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Views of New York taken from Governors Island

















1983 New York, John on subway



1983 New York, China Town



1983 New York, Street artist



1983 New York, Street vendor



1983 New York, subway car



1983 New York, John with roommates John Craft (L), James Allen (R)




1983 John's Room-mates, John Craft and James Allen


1983 John's Room-mate John Craft


1983 New York, John with friends Alda and Michelle



1983 New York, Ruth Orris, Governors Island



1983 New York, Mark Cohen, Governors Island



1983 New York, classmate Ed



1983 New York, classmate Scott



1983 New York, classmate Paul Casey



1983 New York, classmates Max and Mac



1983 New York, classmate Annette May

My year spent at the USCG electronics and communication school at Governors Island, New York was one of the most challenging years I have ever had to endure in my entire life. The school’s curriculum was intense. Each week my classmates and I were tested on the previous weeks lessons and at the end of each course we were tested again. If a person were to fail three tests during the entire year, that person was kicked out. The pressure was unbelievable. The only things that kept me from going completely bonkers were the distractions of the city itself, the good friends I made from school, and the companionship of a girl named Cheryl.



1983 Cheryl Moore, Washington Park NYC



1984 New York, Cheryl Moore, subway



1984 New York, Cheryl Moore and John, Governors Island NY



1984 New York, Cheryl and John, Governors Island NY



1983 New York, Washington Square park



1983 New York, Vilo Metrovich, Governors Island

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1983 New York, John Craft and Cheryl Moore



1983 New York, John Craft, Neil Young concert, Saratoga



1984 New York, John in full dress uniform

The city itself was quite the thing to see for a small town boy like me. Each day after school I would race over to the ferryboat, which would take me over to Manhattan. Often times one of my favorite pleasures was to stand on one of the bridges that connected two buildings in the Wall Street district as I would watch the throngs of beautiful women spill out of the office buildings when the quitting hour arrived. If I were to get to my favorite spot on time I would witness seeing completely empty streets one moment, and in the next moment they would be teaming with secretaries wearing tennis shoes. Each would be carrying a bag that contained their dress shoes as they raced their way to the subway terminals. It was quite a funny sight. I loved the way New York never seemed to have a boring moment. Even the filth of the streets and subways, the pungent smell of urine, and the graffiti that covered over walls and train cars didn’t bother me. Contrary to the way the city is portrayed in the movies, I never saw one act of violence the whole time I was there. Thankfully though I was able to hop on the ferryboat and get back to Governors Island at the end of each day. It was a great place to visit and experience, but I was glad I didn’t have to live in it night and day.


1984 New York, NY cop Cliff and Cheryl, Central Park


1984 New York, John with Graduation papers


1985 New York, C-school, room-mates Todd and Stu



1985 New York, C-school, view from Governors Island



1985 New York, C-school, views from Gov Island